The 14 December 2020 Total Solar Eclipse Effects on Geomagnetic Field Variations and Plasma Density Over South America

Abstract

We discuss the effects in the geomagnetic field variations and ionospheric plasma density modifications caused by the Total Solar Eclipse that occurred on 14 December 2020 over the South American sector. We used ground‐based magnetometer data and the Total Electron Content maps derived from the Global Navigation Satellite System to evaluate these changes. The results show that the geomagnetic field daily variation weakens between the first and last solar eclipse penumbra contact. Additionally, we observed a significant reduction of about 52.33 nT on the Equatorial Electrojet strength at Jicamarca (11.95°S, 76.88°W), where the solar obscuration reached 16.67% approximately. This behavior indicates that the solar eclipse in the equatorial region has possibly affected electric conductivities, altering the E region dynamo electric field. Consequently, it weakens the equatorial plasma fountain, affecting the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly development. Additionally, the ionospheric dynamics variations over Jicamarca during the solar eclipse event are analyzed using ionosonde data. We observe that the solar eclipse also caused a modification in the sporadic E layer and F region dynamics, indicating possible evidence of the gravity wave occurrence. Therefore, the results found here provide a better understanding of how the solar eclipse passage in the equatorial region affects the electron density in the low‐latitude regions.